Martha's News

Friday, November 6, 2009

As an Edith Piaf fan since the age of eight, Martha Wainwright's music has been heavily influenced by the French cultural icon. In her stunning new album - released November 9 - she has added her own unique stamp to a beautiful collection of rare and acclaimed Piaf songs.

The album was recorded over three emotive performances in New York during the summer, and on November 15 those shows are being intimately recreated at The Pigalle Club in London.

Martha Wainwright stamps her je ne sais quoi on a beautiful selection of rare and acclaimed Edith Piaf songs, passionately sung and romantically interpreted by Martha on her stunning album 'Sans Fusils, Ni Souliers, A Paris. Martha Wainwright's Piaf Record' out November 9th in the UK/Europe.

The album was recorded over three intimate performances in New York's Dixon Place Theatre in June. Produced by Hal Willner, Martha Wainwright assembled a unique band of musicians including long-time collaborator Brad Albetta, who produced Martha's first two albums, pianist Thomas Bartlett and electric guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Doug Wieselman to capture the French chanteuse's venerable catalogue, beautifully coupled with Martha's incredible, evocative and characterful voice.

Cautious of avoiding the cliché of looking sad, pretending to be drunk with a glass of absinthe on the table, Martha creates tension and urgency on this charming 12-track record - delivered with paralleled emotion conveying Edith Piaf's mystical vulnerability. Highlights include 'Adieu Mon Coeur', 'Vieux Piano', 'Une Enfant' and a transfixing version of 'Le Foule'.

Growing up in Montreal and speaking French at school, Martha was totally influenced and captivated by Piaf as a child, having listened to her music since the age of eight. “There are certain things about her that I have always been influenced by,” says Martha. “The emotive sensibility of her voice. She's an incredibly emotional singer and I've always been an incredibly emotional singer and pained singer.”

Martha Wainwright will recreate the show at the Barbican, November 11th when she comes to town for a special one-off performance.'

Boy George, Dawn French, Guy Garvey, Jennifer Saunders, and The Thompsons (Teddy, Kami, Linda) are just a few of the special guests and friends announced for the hotly anticipated first London, UK Wainwright/McGarrigle Family Christmas concert, ‘A Not So Silent Night’ at the Royal Albert Hall, December 9th.

This special seasonal Royal Albert Hall show will also include performances by Ed Harcourt, International soprano and ‘Prima Donna’ star Janis Kelly, Jenni Muldaur plus human beatbox Shlomo.

In the US, Christmas has practically become synonymous with the bi-annual Wainwright/McGarrigle Carnegie Hall shows. The New York Times has called the show an “enactment of a family gathering: motley, full of overlapping agendas, a little sentimental, a little fractious but harmonious in the end.”

“It is an off-the-cuff evening of friends and family kind of popping on and off stage as if the stage was our living room,” said RufusWainwright.

Tickets are on sale now priced from £35-£70. The concert will be presented by Artist Ticket. Tickets are available online from www.artistticket.com by phone on 0871 230 0333 and to personal callers to the Royal Albert Hall Box Office.

A limited number of exclusive A Not So Silent Night VIP Packages are available. They include excellent seats for the concert, entry to an intimate post-show cocktail with the performers, and unique gift bags.

These packages can be obtained by making a donation of £500 to benefit cancer research through the Kate McGarrigle Fund.

For more information, call Cléa Desjardins at the McGill University Health Centre Foundation on 00-1-514-931-5656 or visit the A Not So Silent Night website at www.anotsosilentnight.netor email Clea at anotsosilentnight@gmail.com. This is organised by the McGarrigle/Wainwright family and friends, a supporter of Cancer Research UK.

The Kate McGarrigle Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer care and research and affiliated with the McGill University teaching hospitals and Cedars Cancer Institute in Montreal, Canada.

Monday, October 12, 2009

I want to let all of you know that earlier today, CBC announced that I was one of five artists chosen to represent Quebec in their “The Great Canadian Song Quest” competition!

Song Quest, in case you don’t already know, is a contest designed to create thirteen songs based on locations (nominated by listeners) throughout Canada. For each province, listeners nominated a place that they wanted to have a song written about. The five most nominated locations from each province were then selected to move on. Right now, the top five are being voted on to determine the winning location.

Now, here’s the exciting part. You can also vote for ME to be the one to create the song for Quebec! I really want to do this, but I NEED YOUR HELP! Go to http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/songquest/index.html and VOTE for me! Get on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter and tell your friends and family to do the same! If you REALLY want to help me win, I have been told that the best thing to do is use Song Quest’s custom template to make a blog supporting me in this contest. You can create the blog directly from Song Quest’s “Share Quest With the Rest” page on the site. You can also upload images, videos, or anything else that you can think of to help make the case for me to be the one to make a song about Quebec!

You can vote for only ONE location and artist per day, so make sure that you vote for me each and every day! Voting started today and ends at midnight E.T. on October 23rd and the winner will be announced at noon on the 24th.

Also, all throughout the voting period, my music will be played frequently on Radio 2 Morning and Radio 2 Drive, so be sure to listen in!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

On June 11th, 2009 Martha Wainwright will be performing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Here is where you come in…

How would you like a chance to be close to Martha Wainwright’s performance on the show?

Click on the link below and you will be directed to our “Band Bench” Sweepstakes entry form. Enter for a chance to win seats on our band benches and an opportunity to surround the stage during Martha Wainwright’s performance.

Please make sure you include the following band code: MWA, in your entry form.